A man who spiked sweets with sedative and provided them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offences against two boys both between nine and ten.
The defendant was detained after eight youngsters and an older person experienced illness at the facility in the summer month.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on Friday.
However, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was concerning a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a subsequent court date on November 28th.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, described the criminal behavior to the court.
She stated his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were participating in a youth camp which he operated.
The defendant conducted a "candy game" with the youngsters, the legal counsel explained, in which he would enter the boys' rooms when they were getting ready for bed and ask them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She informed the proceedings Ruben had conducted this practice with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the next day.
She stated the man had been successful in rationalizing this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his family member had suspicions in recently.
Mrs Prior KC stated further: "In the summer" his family member had worries about what was going on, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepchild contacted the authorities about his worries.
She explained Ruben proceeded to engage in the "candy game" with six youngsters that night - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not gone out by that stage," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident.
Mrs Prior stated the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson contacted the police again.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "sweet game" in a area of five minors.
